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Legislation the only way out, says RSS

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI JUNE 22. The RSS believes that the Ayodhya issue cannot be resolved through any "formula'' and that, finally, legislation is the only way out.

This issue figured at a two-hour meeting between the RSS Sarsanghchalak, K.S. Sudershan, and the Bharatiya Janata Party president, Venkaiah Naidu, here today. During the meeting, Mr. Naidu briefed Mr. Sudershan about the recently-concluded `Chintan Baithak' of the BJP in Mumbai.

The strident tone of the VHP leaders' criticism of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Government led by them also came up.

Several aspects of the Ayodhya tangle were discussed, especially, the question of resolving it through a legislation which would directly hand over the disputed land to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, a trust controlled by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Mr. Naidu apparently told Mr. Sudershan that while the party MPs were all in favour of voting for a legislation on Ayodhya the difficulty was that other parties, including some in the National Democratic Alliance, would not.

Speaking to this correspondent later, the RSS spokesperson, Ram Madhav, said that his organisation was "not aware'' of the details of the proposals made by the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, but certainly the RSS felt that "at some point later the VHP would have to be taken on board.'' At the same time he did not think that any "formula'' could resolve the Ayodhya dispute and "finally legislation was the only way out.'' Indirectly, what the RSS said was that it was not in favour of sidelining the VHP "which has worked hard on the Ram temple issue.''

It was also made clear that the RSS chief was not in favour of making any promises on Sangh organisations not raising the Kashi and Mathura issues in the future, although this did not figure at today's meeting.

The public quarrel between the BJP and the VHP has also become a problem for the RSS as both the organisations are important and both are RSS fronts.

"You can understand our difficulty,'' Mr. Madhav said, while confirming that Mr. Naidu requested Mr. Sudershan to rein in the VHP leaders and prevent them from using intemperate language against the BJP leaders in Government.

Another point which Mr. Sudershan reportedly emphasised was that as far as possible the BJP should "go forward'' (electorally) on the basis of its "own agenda.''

"We (the RSS) do not interfere in the political decision of the BJP to carry on with its allies in the National Democratic Alliance'' but "Mr. Sudershan told Mr. Naidu that the RSS would like the BJP to focus on its own agenda,'' Mr. Madhav said.

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